[NYCAP123]

that's why i dont' see the attraction.

Besides the amount of waterways in the area the main attraction is (as Capt. Tom pointed out) its centralized location. Another plus is the access to repair facilities and just about everything else a yacht needs. The town is just geared toward it.

[Pascal]

yeah, nice marinas and repair facilities... but again, once you've gone up and down the ICW a few times, what else do you do once the novelty has passed. As to being close to repair facilities, hopefully it's a once a year deal so i'd rather be near nice cruising grounds than boat yards!

i guess it depends how one likes to use their boat... i like to anchor out, go for a swim, take the tender to a beach or sandbar, go snorkeling, watch a great sunset, etc... preferably in blue-green waters and without having to put up with Mr Macho's quadruple outboard Contender's 1 gazilion watts stereo blasting the latest (c)rap hit. :-). Broward doesn't do it for me...

[rocdiver]

Originally Posted by Pascal

without having to put up with Mr Macho's quadruple outboard Contender's 1 gazilion watts stereo blasting the latest (c)rap hit. :-). Broward doesn't do it for me...

With all due respect Pascal, that sounds like you're describing the almost daily (certainly all of the weekends) summer gatherings at Sands Cut, among other places (Stiltsville et al), in Biscayne Bay. I would venture to say that the Miami area has WAY more of that going on than Broward County.

I will say I got a chuckle out of your eloquent description though.

ROCKY

[Pascal]

Rocky...

yep.. but MYs dont' go to the Sands Cut sandbar... they go further south and anchor in Eliot's clear waters... there are miles of shoreline to pick an empty spot! Same with Siltsville, that sandbar on the east side is a small boat sandbar... The sandbar at KB SW point has become pretty busy lately although you can still anchor a little further off and dinghy in... it's easy to avoid the obnoxious crowd around the bay... much less in crowded lake boca, lake sylvia or Peanut island (or whatever Palm Beach County's nr 1 destination is called, right off the port of palm beach/riviera and the Tropical shipping terminal :-)

[rocdiver]

Pascal,
Yes, you're right, not too many secluded bays in Broward. How is the restaurant situation going up the Miami River? Haven't been up there in a while. I understood they were trying to open up several more in the last year or so.

Peanut Island is up in Palm Beach County and I'm sure I wouldn't know anything about that, even though I spent a winter in Palm Harbor Marina as Captain on a 105' Broward with a 45' Excaliber as a runabout. Nope don't remember a thing about it. I'm sure Carl doesn't know anything about it either

All kidding aside, the scenery at those raft-ups tends to be pretty good. I'm of course referring to the nice floating real estate, not to the South Beach Models that end up at Sands Cut or whever . . .

Take care,
ROCKY

[Capt J]

Originally Posted by Pascal

Rocky...

yep.. but MYs dont' go to the Sands Cut sandbar... they go further south and anchor in Eliot's clear waters... there are miles of shoreline to pick an empty spot! Same with Siltsville, that sandbar on the east side is a small boat sandbar... The sandbar at KB SW point has become pretty busy lately although you can still anchor a little further off and dinghy in... it's easy to avoid the obnoxious crowd around the bay... much less in crowded lake boca, lake sylvia or Peanut island (or whatever Palm Beach County's nr 1 destination is called, right off the port of palm beach/riviera and the Tropical shipping terminal :-)

The ICW in Broward and Palm Beach counties is pretty tame from what I have seen lately and very rarely do you come across someone blasting music. The Marine Police crack down on it fairly quickly and for example in Lake Boca on the weekends there is usually always a patrol boat there and patrolling the area.

From the poster's post, I don't think he has any interest in anchoring out and putting his tender in and out of the water on a regular basis. It sounds like he is more into going for a day cruise with friends and stopping at restaurants, having lunch and cruising back to the dock.

I agree that if you like to anchor out and that sort of thing, tender to a little island, or waterski behind the tender that Miami is nicer. However if you're not into that, I think Miami is a pretty boring place to cruise with very little in scenery that is close by. Yeah you see islands a few miles off your side, but they're too far away to see any detail if you're in the channel. It's also a pain to stop at restaurants like at Bayside or Miami beach Marina where you have to go into a slip and tie up in a boat that size, rather then pulling up along a face dock at Shooters or Houstons where they have a line handler.

[NYCAP123]

Hate to say it guys, but from the sounds of things all over So. Florida (between the crowds, blasting go-fasts, blasting stereos, slow speed zones, lack of accessable uncrowded beaches and restaurants, etc.) the cruising up here sounds so much better. We just have to figured out how to lure the bikinis out in winter.

[Seafarer]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Hate to say it guys, but from the sounds of things all over So. Florida (between the crowds, blasting go-fasts, blasting stereos, slow speed zones, lack of accessable uncrowded beaches and restaurants, etc.) the cruising up here sounds so much better. We just have to figured out how to lure the bikinis out in winter.

Problem is, while the cold makes certain things become more pronounced in the bikinis, it has the opposite effect on certain things on us...

[yachtbrokerguy]

When checking the rates for marinas, make sure to ask about monthly rates, "season" rates, and year round rates. Transient rates can be high, but a much better deal can be had for longer periods. Remember this is the "Gold Coast" and demand in the winter is high and supply and demand make a difference.

Some boat owners will store behind a house when they are not using the boat, then move to a marina when on board. Zoning in Fort Lauderdale does not allow stay aboards behind a private home. Apartments and condos are different.

As I type this I am about a half mile off shore headed from the Stuart Boat Show back to Fort Lauderdale. I have not waited for a bridge yet! Waves are about six inches, sunny skies, low 70's temperatures. No wonder so many boaters want to be here in the winter!

[NYCAP123]

As I type this I am about a half mile off shore headed from the Stuart Boat Show back to Fort Lauderdale. I have not waited for a bridge yet! Waves are about six inches, sunny skies, low 70's temperatures

You're killing me.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

You're killing me.

Hey, C'mon down.
We have blue skies and bluer hulls.

[Pascal]

here, that was last night sunset, we were anchored off KBYC... just had time to grab the camera as a hatt. was passing by.

[hat4349]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Besides the amount of waterways in the area the main attraction is (as Capt. Tom pointed out) its centralized location. Another plus is the access to repair facilities and just about everything else a yacht needs. The town is just geared toward it.

However you don't use those everytime you go out, I remember in 2006 my friend moved his boat from close to DC down to the Chesapeake because he got tired of coming out to the river and thinking well do I go to starboard or port this time and see the same old thing. By coming to the Bay he was able to pick numerous places to cruise to, Pascal has a very valid point here. While access is important being able to cruise to different areas when you go out for a day, a weekend, or even longer is important. When you want repairs I have always been able to make arrangements to have the boat pulled and for emergencies there are plenty of mobile mechanics here and I am sure in Florida also. I would definitely recommend taking into account these factors before deciding where to put the boat.

[thebighawk]

Take a look at waterways marina! That could fit

[RER]

Originally Posted by Pascal

here, that was last night sunset, we were anchored off KBYC... just had time to grab the camera as a hatt. was passing by.

Wow..that sky is unreal.